Monthly Archives: November 2012

Holiday shopping season has begun, and it’s time to start making your wishlist for the holiday season! Maybe you’re looking for that perfect gift for a family member or friend. How about that person that’s always hard to shop for? No matter who is on your list, we’ve got the top travel gadgets that will make everyone happy.

iPhone 5 – Although there are many smartphones on the market, Apple continues to be the leader in apps, which can come in handy when traveling. You can also use Siri to check the weather of your destination, find a nearby restaurant or send text messages with voice commands.

Energizer XP1000 – The ultra-slim charger is an emergency charger and back-up battery that can provide up to two extra hours on a smartphone. It’s convenient to carry, packs a lot of power, and can come in handy if you’re out all day exploring a new city.

Kindle Fire – The Kindle Fire is perfect for everyone on your shopping list. With over 20 million movies, TV shows, songs, magazines, books, audiobooks, and popular apps and games, there is something to keep anyone entertained while traveling.

Vivitar ViviCam Underwater Camera – Not only can you take underwater photos with the ViviCam 8400, but you can also shoot short movies up to 10 meters underwater. This battery-powered camera is the perfect choice for going surfing, rafting or just hanging out on a beach vacation.

Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard -This impressive keyboard works with Windows, iOS and Android devices, and that means you can use it to send emails from your smartphone, computer or tablet. It also auto-adjusts to dim or lighten the keys depending on the amount of light in the room.

As always, another purchase that can save a vacation is travel insurance. Whether it is a flight delay, an illness or another unforeseen event that could ruin your trip, you’ll travel with ease knowing that your investment is protected.

There’s nothing worse than coming down with the flu while you’re on vacation, and who can forget the H1N1 hysteria that hit travelers a few years ago? Wether it is a virus or just a cold, follow these steps to stay flu-free during your winter vacation.

Take some extra time to sleep in! According to the Mayo Clinic, quality sleep means a quality immune system. Your body needs that time to recover and fight infectious germs. In fact, studies show that people who don’t get quality sleep or enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus, such as the common cold.

Wash your hands! While this one seems like a no-brainer, sometimes there’s not always a sink available while you’re traveling. To combat this type of situation, pack a kit with antibacterial hand sanitizer, tissues, and nasal spray. In addition to your hands, use the antibacterial hand sanitizer on any public surfaces like the tray table on your flight or the hand rail on the subway.

Like your parents always said – eat your fruit and vegetables! This is another key to keeping up your immune system. If you load up with fresh fruit and vegetables two weeks before your trip to boost zinc levels and ward off the flu virus!

Grab a glass of water. Experts advise drinking eight ounces for every hour you’ll be traveling. When your body is well-hydrated, it is able to fight off germs and keep your immune system running at full speed. If you’re itching for a cocktail, experts also recommend having two glasses of water with each alcoholic bevarage.

Follow the doctor’s orders! A check up at the doctor is a good thing to have before

traveling. You can find out what illnesses you might be susceptible at your destination.

You’ll also want to make sure you’re up-to-date on your immunizations. One of the most important immunizations is the flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly encourage that every American—especially young kids, pregnant women, those over 65, and anyone with a chronic illness—get immunized every year.

But even if you follow all of these tips, sometimes coming down with the latest bug is inevitable. That’s where we come in. If you, a family member or your traveling partner fall ill, travel insurance may be able to help salvage your vacation. If you have questions about how you’re covered with your current travel insurance or how you could be covered by investing in travel insurance, please post a comment below or call us at 1-888-885-7233 and we’ll be happy to answer any questions.

Technology can be your best friend when traveling – it allows you to check on the latest deals, get weather updates and take great photos. We’ve complied a list of the top five applications you should download to your phone or tablet to make your next trip a success.

PHOTOSNYTH: How many times have you said, “A picture just wouldn’t do this justice?” Well, this free app wants to change that. The app allows you to stitch together your photos to make a 360-degree view (horizontal or vertical) of your favorite location, people or event.

TRIPIT: Throw away all of those paper confirmations, documents and print outs! This free app keeps you organized by filing all of your travel information, documents and emails. It forwards your confirmation emails to one account in order to create a helpful itinerary for your trip.

THE WEATHER CHANNEL: There’s no better place to go for the latest weather than The Weather Channel. With 200+ meteorologists and ultra-local forecasting technology, the app has the tools you need to plan your day, week, or even the next hour on your trip.

HOTELTONIGHT: Last minute travelers, rejoice! This free app lets you pull same-day bookings near you, which you can book beginning at noon that same day. Use this app when you want to take a last-minute trip or have sudden flight delays (don’t forget to use travel insurance for flight delays, too!).

XE Currency: Converting foreign currency can be a pain and no one wants to do math on a vacation, so download this application to do it for you. XE Currency provides accurate conversions with only a few taps.

Make sure your trip goes seamlessly by downloading these applications. If you have questions about how you can cover your travel investment, leave a comment below or call us at 1-888-885-7233.

The violence presents a problem for travelers across Europe. As part of “European Day of Action and Solidarity”, the international rail services were disrupted with strikes in Belgium, Italy and France. Not too far away, Spanish and Portuguese employees staged a strike across the entire Iberian Peninsula.

As a result, hundreds of flights, including those between southern Europe and hubs such as London Heathrow and Amsterdam Schiphol, were also cancelled.

The strikes and bouts of violence in Europe, showcase how important it is to purchase travel insurance in order to protect yourself and your investment. If you have already purchased travel insurance and have questions about how you are covered in this situation, leave a comment below or call us at 1-888-885-7233.

Looking to escape the winter months and get some sun? Or how about embracing the cold and hitting the slopes? We’ve compiled a list of travel destinations that will help you do just that, but won’t break the bank.

First up is Sedona, Arizona. This desert town boasts spa resorts, warm weather and great hiking locations. So wether you’re looking to relax or get active, Sedona is great place to visit this winter. You’ll get a great deal for your money with most resorts offering massages or spa credit along with the nightly room rate.

On the other side of the country, Naples, Florida has enjoyable weather and beaches to match. In December, resorts that provide discounts between Thanksgiving and Christmas time. Naples is a perfect vacation destination if you like to spend time on the beach, golf or just want to do some holiday shopping at the many seaside shops.

Heading back to the West Coast, California Wine Country makes for a nice winter vacation. You can save money on this trip by traveling during the week. Wine Country is usually crowded on the weekends, but if you travel during the week, you can escape the crowds and the extra cost. Cheers to that!

Lastly, if you want to travel out of the country, Vancouver, British Columbia is full of business hotels that have great rates on the weekend. This Canadian city is great for travelers who want to hit the slopes this winter or explore Vancouver’s downtown.

Wherever you decide to head this winter, make sure you cover your investment by purchasing travel insurance. Leave a comment below or call us at 1-888-885-7233, and we can answer your travel insurance questions.